WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2018: FINAL KM DAY 4

Day four and Rohan Dennis destroys a world class time trial field to romp home to rainbows.

Elite Men ITT

Rohan Dennis produced a stunning display of cool, calm, collected power to take his first time trial world champion title. The only competitors within two minutes of him were the two who joined him on the podium- defending champ Tom Dumoulin in silver and Victor Campanaerts with bronze.

Billed as duel between 2018’s two best time-triallists, Dennis and Dumoulin were the last riders down the start ramp, both chasing a the time set by a brilliant Campanaerts.

The flying Australian caught two 90 second men in the 52.2 km course. Passing Spain’s Jonathan Castroviejo on the climb, and Vasil Kiryenka (Belarus) on the run to the line.

Rohan Dennis averages 55kph to the first check point.

Last time I hit that speed was about 2 years ago, downhill, with a tailwind, on a de-restricted ebike. #InnsbruckTirol2018

It quickly became apparent the battle for Big Tom was now between silver and bronze. Rocking and rolling on his bike, the Dutchman dug deep and found just that little bit more to give through the pain to claim silver by a fraction of a second. He was distraught at the finish.

"Today didn’t go well and I was some way off my top level. It didn’t go smoothly and my body cramped. I wanted it really bad, but more was simply not possible." – @tom_dumoulin reflects on silver at #InnsbruckTirol2018.

We can’t leave this report without special mention of Campenaerts. In a day when Dennis was nigh on perfect, this man’s time trial was a revelation. I’m sure we all remember him as the rider who asked for a date in his own way at the 2017 Giro TT, but he’s stepped it up this season. National, European and now podium at the Worlds.